Happy Tuesday! The weather is starting to act up across the nation, with chances of severe storms over the next few days.
Severe Storms
We’re tracking the potential of severe weather today across portions of the southern U.S., Wednesday across the Northern Plains, and Thursday across the Central Plains. You can see the storm developing on the forecast loop above.
[TRACK THE STORMS: Interactive Radar]
After seeing a few storms in the Florida panhandle yesterday evening, which caused one report of quarter sized hail in Altha, FL, we should see more widespread storms and severe weather today from Texas to northern Florida. The best chance of severe weather is in the yellow area (the slight risk area) from Texas and Oklahoma eastward into Alabama, where large hail and damaging winds will be the main threat. However, severe storms are possible anywhere in the dark green area (the marginal risk area).
[FORECAST FOR POSSIBLE SEVERE WEATHER AREAS: Wichita Falls – Little Rock – Birmingham]
Wednesday our attention turns north for the severe chance. Moisture will be streaming north throughout the day and storms are expected to fire ahead of a cold front. Some of these storms, particularly within the slight risk area (again in yellow) will be capable of large hail and damaging winds in the afternoon and evening hours.
[FORECAST FOR POSSIBLE SEVERE WEATHER AREAS: Minneapolis – Omaha – Kansas City – Wichita]
For some in the upper Midwest, if they see severe weather tomorrow it could be the first severe reports since last September! Wisconsin hasn’t seen a severe weather report since September 4!
It would also be the first reports of thunder for some – Minneapolis hasn’t heard thunder since September 20th.
The severe threat moves south and east into the day Thursday as the system moves east. Once again we have a slight risk area for parts of the Mid Mississippi Valley into northeastern Texas. Large hail and damaging winds will once again be the main threat.
[FORECAST FOR POSSIBLE SEVERE WEATHER AREAS: Indianapolis – St. Louis – Memphis – Dallas]
We even have a severe threat for Good Friday from eastern Texas into Northwest Alabama as the cold front continues to sag southward. This circle is only for a 15% chance of severe weather, which would equate to a Slight Risk in the Day 1-3 outlooks. It would appear there may be a more isolated severe risk Friday may exist northeastward into the Appalachians, but it is not high enough of a chance for the SPC to include in their Day 4 outlook.
[FORECAST FOR POSSIBLE SEVERE WEATHER AREAS: Shreveport – Jackson, MS]
Heat Surges For Now
Before the cold front moves through that starts the next round of severe weather tomorrow across the country, it’s going to be pretty warm for parts of the nation. Highs in the 70s and 80s will stretch all the way to Canadian border today. These highs will be a good 10-30 degrees above average for this time of year.
The warmth shrinks and shifts a little east heading into the first day of April tomorrow as that cold front starts making its presence known across the Northern Rockies. We could see 80s as far north as Omaha. Meanwhile, New England is still stuck in the winter rut, with highs potentially not making it above freezing in northern Maine.
[MAPS: Forecast Temperatures Next 7 Days]
Enjoy the last day of March – hopefully March is going out like a lamb wherever you are!
Meteorologist D.J. Kayser
Find me on Twitter (@dkayserwx) or on Facebook (Meteorologist D.J. Kayser)